Overseas Residents and Ex-Pats

If you live abroad but have property or other assets in the UK, it is extremely important that you create a Will in England / Wales to a) Deal with your property in England or Wales and b) Appoint Guardians for any young children that you have, in case you pass away while they are still children.

Of course, your Will can be done remotely; there is no need to make a special journey just to create your Will.  Give us a call or send us an email today and we’ll ring you back at a mutually convenient time.

For those planning to move outside England or Wales

The advice above would still apply – however, we recommend creating your Will before you move away, so that you can have peace of mind in your new home from day one.

If you return to the UK, you do not necessarily need to update your Will, unless your circumstances have changed, such as getting married or divorced. 

For those with assets outside England and Wales

To protect and deal with your overseas assets, you will need to create a Will in that country.  However, it CRUCIAL to note the following:

• A Will drafted overseas deals only with your overseas assets, and can’t deal with your property in England / Wales.

• A Will drafted overseas should not override any Will drafted in England / Wales – usually a Will contains a standard clause to override any previous Wills.  This should not be included in your overseas Will if you have assets in England / Wales. 

• The reverse is also true – any Will made in England or Wales after your have made an overseas Will should not override all previous Wills.

Before creating an overseas Will, we would recommend seeking legal advice in the relevant country.
For any Will to deal with your property in England / Wales, regardless or where you currently live, we can help.  Please drop us a line and we’ll happily have a no-obligation chat.  You can also visit our FAQs page and our Guide To Making A Will.  We look forward to hearing from you.